P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 3-21-13

Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Coalition Co-Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver outlined the agreement on the 2013-14 Budget AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN Albany last night; the governor outlined some of the aspects of the plan

(Cuomo 3-21-13)

Senate Leader Dean Skelos agreed that the budget will work this year & into the next one:

(Dean Skelos 3-21-13)

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said that the $350 tax rebate for middle-income families would be a boost in 2014:

(Sheldon Silver 3-21-13)

Budget votes by lawmakers will begin on Saturday, with the potential to be the earliest state budget since 1976 and the first time New York has had three consecutive, on-time budgets since 1984.

——————————–

Norwich police have arrested 4 people in connection with the sale of heroin. Charged were 25-year-old Ashley Babcock of Norwich, 35-year-old Eneth Davenport of Norwich, 28-year-old Randy Buck of Sherburne, and 24-year-old Michael Marshall of vestal, for 7th degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and criminally using drug paraphernalia. Babcock and Davenport were also charged with 1st degree criminal nuisance and Marshall was charged with 3rd degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. All are being held in the Norwich City lockup pending arraignments scheduled for today in Norwich City Court.

——————————–

34-year-old Francisco Torres of Oneonta has been indicted by an Otsego County grand jury and has been arrested by the Otsego County Sheriff’s department for allegedly failing to register as a sexual offender. Torres was charged with 2 counts of failure to register as a sexual offender, for allegedly moving to Oneonta from state route 7 in Colliersville in December, and failing to notify authorities within 10 days of the move. Torres may face additional charges for allegedly living in Albany, Hartwick & the town of Maryland without reporting those addresses, as required of level 2 sex offenders, he was arraigned and was released pending future court action.

—————————————-

Traffic detours have been set up following an accident that damaged a bridge on Otsego County Route 11C in the town of Hartwick. Officials said that a tractor-trailer truck tried to fit through the bridge Wednesday, but the rig was too tall and caused damage to a steel beam. The damage has led to traffic detours and changes to the Oneonta Public Transit routes between Oneonta and Cooperstown. 36-year-old Steven Marrero of Newark New Jersey was ticket with exceeding the clearance & for an equipment violation following the accident.

—————————————

Otsego county sheriff’s deputies arrested 32-year-old Raymond Travis & 65 year old Wilma Travis of Worcester in connection with filing a false report of a stolen vehicle. Wilma Travis was charged with 3rd degree falsely reporting an incident, Raymond Travis was charged with 6th degree conspiracy and several violations of vehicle and traffic law, they face court action at a later date.

—————————————-

Motorists are advised that Interstate 81 southbound and State Route 17 eastbound between exits 3 & 4 will be reduced to 1 lane between 6:00 PM and 7:00 AM nightly beginning Tonight, through this Saturday morning. I-81 southbound exit 4N ramp to State Route 7 northbound will be closed; Traffic will be detoured using exit 4S to State Route 7 northbound. Crews will be working to remove concrete barrier for future lane shifts.